I have around a month and a half left before I go home. Everyone’s minds have been running around about plans for home and how to best prepare for it. I’ve spent hours praying and reflecting over this year worrying about how to transition home. I’ve learned a lot through this time. I’ve learned that I’m ready to come home. I know the gifts I have to offer, the person I am now, and I’m more than ready to share that with people. I’m ready for sweet reunions, enchiladas, and being able to drive! I’m excited to build community, new routines, and restore relationships. I know I am ready.
This time also taught me that I’m in fact not at home. There’s a time for every season and while it’s good to prepare it’s not good to dwell. The season I am in is the World Race. I STILL have a month and a half. That’s a whole lot of time to grow, change and discover new things. I don’t want to miss the end of this season in the preparation for the next.
I’ve been asked more and more recently if I’m excited to go home. The answer is always yes. But I am even more excited to get to go to my care point next Monday and see my kids. I’m even more excited to be able to share the Easter story with the ones who have never heard it. I’m more excited to go on a mini beach vacation this week with my squad. I can only be in the season I’m in. I don’t want to wish away the season I find my feet planted in. There’s so much more for me to do and I believe if I allow it, the Lord can do more radical things in this last month than in the first 8.
Before I left for the World Race I was sad thinking about how it would be the best year of my life and then it would be gone. I seriously had no idea how I was going to top it even in the beginning. I thought: “shoot I’m peaking.” But I’m so humbled to be able to say this year wasn’t the best year of my life. This isn’t because I didn’t do crazy amazing things and live in breathtaking places. It isn’t because I didn’t see beautiful landscapes and experience the most thrilling adventures. It wasn’t the best year because I won’t allow it to be. It is only a launching pad into what’s to come for me. The season I’ll be entering in a month will only get better even if I’m surrounded by corn fields instead of mountain ranges.
What’s to come is so exciting but it doesn’t make the life I live now any less significant. In fact I believe it makes it more significant. The way I live boldly here will only set me up for this next period in my life. So I will choose to stay present in everyday and in every moment. I will choose to love my community, say the hard things, and fight my battles here. I won’t grow complacent and coast to the end. This season matters and I refuse to wish it away.
I will see you in a little over a month. Not before and not any later. That sounds just about perfect doesn’t it?
Love
Hannah
